DRDO to Develop Lighter ATAGS Variant for Enhanced Battlefield Mobility

In a boost to India's artillery modernization efforts, the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), a laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), has begun work on a lighter variant of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS).

This new version of the 155mm/52 calibre howitzer is designed to meet the Indian Army's specific requirements for a next-generation Towed Gun System (TGS) weighing under 15 tons.

The original ATAGS, already acknowledged for its firepower and battlefield performance, faced operational limitations due to its weight of approximately 18 tons. Recognizing the need for improved mobility and deployment, DRDO is developing a lighter variant to fulfill the army's stipulated specifications.

This new iteration of the ATAGS will retain its core firepower and reliability but will also undergo technological upgrades to enhance its overall capabilities. DRDO's primary objective is to deliver a Towed Gun System that seamlessly aligns with the Indian Army's need for rapid deployment across diverse terrains.

The Indian Army has placed an initial order for 400 next-generation Towed Gun Systems, highlighting the crucial need to upgrade its artillery forces to meet emerging security challenges.

While they intend to procure 307 units of the current ATAGS, the weight restrictions necessitate a lighter variant to complete the order and address potential future needs.

The projected demand for Towed Gun Systems could reach as high as 1200 units, presenting a significant opportunity for India's domestic defence industry.

The lighter ATAGS variant will compete with other contenders, such as the Adani-Elbit ATMOS howitzers, emphasizing the critical need for technologically superior solutions in the competitive defence procurement landscape.

 

[NSR]

This is a great idea and will help Indian Army massively in Mountain Warfare.
India can say good bye to more imports of FH-777 Howitzers from BAE if this idea is successful.
Hope that it will not run into ground in the name of unlimited tests and trials.

 

[Aravind Raveendran]

Good luck to them, hope they are successful in making ATAGs within the perimeter.

 

[Anton Sokolov]

Why did Army allow Foreign designed product ATMOS in the competition where the criteria is Indigenously designed/developed in the first place ?

 

[Superpower Bharat]

This is a great idea and will help Indian Army massively in Mountain Warfare.
India can say good bye to more imports of FH-777 Howitzers from BAE if this idea is successful.
Hope that it will not run into ground in the name of unlimited tests and trials.

Replacement of FH-777 is already exists... Kalyani ULH

 

[Pink Panther]

Wonder why they waste their time on towed Artillery, when some truck tows this artillery the length will be either doubled or tripled depending on the size of the vehicle that tows, it will be too hard to tow in winding roads, better option would be vehicle mounted artillery, also it takes time and personal to mount and dismount the the towed artillery.

 

[Ashutosh]

No need - would be better to go for MGS.
Fire and scoot is important for artilleries nowadays
Anyways, Happy Holi 🫂

 

[Satya Dev]

Bharat Forge has already developed 30km range MArG-BR 155mmx39cal MGS with autoloader for Armenia, so IA can ask them to offer 42km range MArG-ER 155mmx52cal MGS for deployment on the North/North East LOC/LAC mountains (Kashmir-Ladakh-Himachal-U'Khand-Sikkim-Arunachal).

 

[INDIAN]

Another 10 years for induction.

 

[sanket]

Time is Important hope they develop within Time.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

No need - would be better to go for MGS.
Fire and scoot is important for artilleries nowadays
Anyways, Happy Holi 🫂

Shoot and scoot is overrated. If you look at ukraine, the number 1 threat to artillery is from loitering amunitions and drones, and jets if you have PGM for them. And towed artillery is just as vulnerable to them than SPG and Truck mounted artillery. You can see videos of truck mounted and self propelled artillery being destroyed by drones and LM. On oryx ypu c an see that ukraine has lost more SPG and truck mounted systems than towed artillery.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Why did Army allow Foreign designed product ATMOS in the competition where the criteria is Indigenously designed/developed in the first place ?

Has army said that they are considering atmos? No. These are just media rumors. Army has not said which sysyems it is considering

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Wonder why they waste their time on towed Artillery, when some truck tows this artillery the length will be either doubled or tripled depending on the size of the vehicle that tows, it will be too hard to tow in winding roads, better option would be vehicle mounted artillery, also it takes time and personal to mount and dismount the the towed artillery.

Towed artillery is much lighter than truck mounted or self propelled system. In fact you IAF has shown that you can lift a towed gun system using a chinook and drop it on mountain top. Light artillery is game changer for high altitude warfare.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Towed gun systems are much lighter than truck mounted systems and self propelled systems. In fact chinook can lift it and place it on hill top lol. Light artillery is game changer in high altitude warfare.

As for debate over towed artillery and truck mounted system. Shoot and scoot is overrated. If you look at ukraine, the number 1 threat to artillery is from loitering amunitions and drones, and jets if you have PGM for them. And towed artillery is just as vulnerable to them than SPG and Truck mounted artillery. You can see videos of truck mounted and self propelled artillery being destroyed by drones and LM. On oryx you can see that ukraine has lost more SPG and truck mounted systems than towed artillery.

 

[Ashutosh]

Shoot and scoot is overrated. If you look at ukraine, the number 1 threat to artillery is from loitering amunitions and drones, and jets if you have PGM for them. And towed artillery is just as vulnerable to them than SPG and Truck mounted artillery. You can see videos of truck mounted and self propelled artillery being destroyed by drones and LM. On oryx ypu c an see that ukraine has lost more SPG and truck mounted systems than towed artillery.

Mobile artilleries have a clear edge on immobile artilleries if survivability is a factor.
Atleast, u can attempt a run once u know the threat.
Loitering munitions are not the only threat to artilleries.
U can be outnumbered in a position too.
One more thing is easy mobility which is important especially in mountain warfare.

 

[Akshat]

Why did Army allow Foreign designed product ATMOS in the competition where the criteria is Indigenously designed/developed in the first place ?

It’s not army’s prerogative. Mod defines what is indigenous. If they make a subsidiary in India and transfers tech to that subsidiary with a certain percentage of localization, it will qualify as indigenous. Or if they partner with an Indian firm and do the same.

Also, no one has been allowed as of now. No trials have happened.

 

[Akshat]

Seems like a fake news. Army has already released a tender for newer heavier trucks. So are they going to order 2 different guns? Seems unlikely.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Mobile artilleries have a clear edge on immobile artilleries if survivability is a factor.
Atleast, u can attempt a run once u know the threat.
Loitering munitions are not the only threat to artilleries.
U can be outnumbered in a position too.
One more thing is easy mobility which is important especially in mountain warfare.

If you look at how ukraine is using artillery, they are not using shoot and scoot at all. They dig a hole, but the SPG or truck mounted system in the hole, cover it with camoflage netting and then fire. I have seen all these videos, and I have looked at the photos on oryx, you can see that some of the destroyed systems were hit while they were being camoflaged in dense foliage. Most were hit out in the open. Number 1 threat to them in future warfare would be from the air, and the priority should be to hide them.

Moving them around wpuld make them more vulnerable to detection lol

 

[Ashutosh]

If you look at how ukraine is using artillery, they are not using shoot and scoot at all. They dig a hole, but the SPG or truck mounted system in the hole, cover it with camoflage netting and then fire. I have seen all these videos, and I have looked at the photos on oryx, you can see that some of the destroyed systems were hit while they were being camoflaged in dense foliage. Most were hit out in the open. Number 1 threat to them in future warfare would be from the air, and the priority should be to hide them.

Moving them around wpuld make them more vulnerable to detection lol

That's one of the things I hate about people - taking someone else's reference and applying the same logic in other case.

Where would you find appropriate overhead cover in the mountainous deserts of Ladakh!?
Or Arunachal Pradesh!?

There is almost no overhead cover to hide people there - forget about hiding artilleries.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

That's one of the things I hate about people - taking someone else's reference and applying the same logic in other case.

Where would you find appropriate overhead cover in the mountainous deserts of Ladakh!?
Or Arunachal Pradesh!?

There is almost no overhead cover to hide people there - forget about hiding artilleries.

You can dig a hole, and put the gun in it and use camo covering to hide.

If that is not possible you station SAM or AA gun systems nearby for protection.

Hiding from drones and LM is paramount. These can hit you even if you are moving. I have seen what happens if a moving heavy vehicle is with a drone, the truck overturns or crashes, catches fire, game over.

If you are depending on anti drone systems, then it makes more sense to stay in one place where there is protection. Moving around will kust make you vulnerable.

China has a whole army of drones and LM. many times more than russia